The Oshawa Kicks Raiders 94G concluded their inaugural OYSL season with two matches over the past weekend.  The competition, as always in the OYSL, was tough and while the Raiders may have come up short in both matches – the effort and outright gamesmanship was admirable.   To be sure, the circumstances over the weekend were less than ideal, which further illustrates the resilience of the girls on the pitch.   

Saturday’s match was in Pickering against the resurgent Pythons, who have had a very successful second half in 2008.  The only two goals of the match came at approx. the 5^th and 85^th minute and both came from the Pythons.  In between, the play was rather non-descript - mostly in the middle but with a territorial edge to Pickering.  The Raiders had a particularly difficult time penetrating the Pickering backline, and as a result the Python keeper was not overly tested.    Final score once again was 2-0 for Pickering.   

On Sunday the Nepean Hotspurs Lightning travelled to Oshawa for a re-scheduled match that had originally been slated back on July 20.  Sunday’s match was ostensibly two different matches wrapped up into one.  The first half was very intense, competitive and featured dynamic play from both sides, all of which contributed to a 3-2 Hotspurs lead at the half.   In the second half, an early goal by Nepean seemed to deflate the Raiders, while clearly bolstering the Nepean side.  The Hotspurs rode this momentum the rest of the way and rounded out the match with two additional goals to emerge 6-2 winners.    

The Kicks Raiders wish to thank Stephanie Y. along with Courtney A. and her Caledon club for their gracious assistance during the home stretch, where roster and injury concerns were encountered by the Raiders. 

The 2008 OYSL season has definitely been a tough road for the Raiders, who in many ways competed at this level but in the final analysis simply did not have the overall depth required to sustain the intensity of a 90 minute match on a consistent basis.   The OSA’s Pyramid of Play suggests that the Raiders will now be assigned to “do their penance” in 2009 and thereby compete in the CGSL L3 division.   The Raiders faithful are prepared to do this and look to be a force to contend with in 2009.

In a rescheduled match from the early August timeframe (when field closures were plentiful throughout Southern Ontario), the Oakville Titans returned to Oshawa to face the Kicks Raiders.  Although the weather conditions were not an issue this time around, a couple of the Oshawa girls seemed to struggle with their footing on multiple occasions during the first half.   During the early moments of the match the play was fairly balanced, a condition that was to last for about the first 12-15 minutes.  After this juncture, the talented Titans gradually began to assert their influence on the match.      The Titans struck first at about the 15 minute mark and followed up with another goal near the 30 minute mark to take a 2-0 lead into the second half.   

Entering the second half, the Raiders knew that the task at hand was daunting, and this mindset seemed to permeate their approach, as they lacked the intensity and overall urgency that was necessary to compete with Oakville.  A shortage of healthy bodies further complicated the Raiders mission and as the half progressed, the Oakville squad seized virtually every opportunity it could to pad its lead.    When all was said and done, the final score was 7-0 and the Titans were very deserving of this victory.     

The Raiders close out their inaugural OYSL season with a couple of weekend matches against Pickering and Nepean (re-scheduled from July 20^th).

The Oshawa Kicks Raiders 94G were fortunately one of the final four teams in Ontario left to contend for the prestigious Ontario Cup.  However, in what seems to be an all too familiar theme, the Raiders eventually meet up with a certain team known as the Newmarket United Lasers.  The Lasers and Raiders have now met in either the quarter-final or semi-final for three consecutive years. 

Saturday brought the final four teams to sunny Cambridge, Ontario – the neutral site for the Semi-Final matches in 2008.  In an odd twist of fate, the Raiders and Lasers had just met recently in OYSL league play, where the teams battled to a 3-3 draw.  The weather in Cambridge, however was quite warm compared to the aforementioned 9:00 p.m. league match.  The afternoon heat in Cambridge would have an obvious bearing on the outcome in Saturday’s semi-final match, as the Raiders were slight in numbers due to a combination of absence and injury.

The Lasers came out strong, and took a 1-0 lead about 20 minutes into the opening half, and although the Raiders had two golden opportunities to draw level, neither attempt was successful.  At the other end, the Lasers were making sure that Mac had plenty to keep busy with, and to her credit, she gamefully obliged the Lasers for the remainder of the opening half.

The Raiders, entering the second half down only 1-0, were hopeful of a similar comeback to the recent OYSL match with the Lasers.  But it was not to be.  The Raiders short bench (12 players dressed for duty) struggled to mount any type of sustained attack in the increasing heat of the afternoon sun.  Newmarket, perhaps mindful of the recent points left on the table in Oshawa, kept up the intense pressure and were rewarded with a second goal, coming off a powerful shot to the upper corner.  Not long after that, an Oshawa defender was struck in the hand by a shot inside the box, allowing the Lasers to increase the lead to 3-0 with a fine penalty strike.  A somewhat fatigued Raiders team conceded one more goal to the hard-charging Lasers, making the final a well-earned 4-0 victory to the girls from Newmarket. 

The Oshawa girls gave it their all, and can be very proud of the way they conducted themselves in such reduced numbers.   Earning a trip to the Ontario Cup Final Four weekend is in itself quite an accomplishment.    Well done, ladies.

The Raiders met up Thursday with the Newmarket Lasers, an old foe from their CGSL days.  Fortunately, the field conditions at Oshawa Civic #3 were very quite favourable, given all the rain that had fallen in recent days.  Unfortunately, the local throngs of mosquitoes also found Civic #3 to their liking on Thursday, making for an interesting evening for the players and spectators alike. 

Both sides were missing players, and would therefore have to make due with a short bench.  The game was dominated early by the Newmarket side, both territorially and on the scoresheet.   By the interval, the Lasers had put up a 3-1 lead and were full marks for the half-time lead.  In the second half, the game became more competitive, taking on more of a balanced flow.  The Raiders notched a goal about midway through the half, which further energized the Oshawa attack.  Newmarket responded with an equal sense of urgency, and came close to expanding its lead on more than one occasion.   Some dangerous close-range chances by the Lasers were either thwarted by Mac or turned away by the Oshawa defenders.  As the half progressed, one could sense the level of intensity increase for Oshawa, who were rewarded with an equalizer with less than 10 minutes to play.

Newmarket pressed hard to take the lead once again, but to no avail.  In the games final seconds, the Raiders almost pulled off a victory, but a splendid save by the Lasers keeper kept the ball out of the net, thus preserving the draw for Newmarket.   

The game was a good illustration of the relative parity that still exists in the OYSL’s U14 Girls division, even if the standings may not necessarily reflect this.  Consistency, capitalization and confidence appear to be the 3 C’s that most often bring success.   For the Raiders faithful, it is very refreshing to see that the girls remain willing to fight the good fight and strive to improve in all three areas.

The prestigious Ontario Cup resumed play today for the eight remaining U14 Girls teams in the province.   For the hosting Raiders, it was an opportunity to renew acquaintances with the London United Southend Jaguars, who had twice pulled off last minute victories against the Oshawa girls during OYSL league play this season. 

The Raiders were coming off yet another postponed OYSL league match, as their scheduled tilt with the Oakville Titans was washed out on Thursday evening due to bad weather.  The hope was that the Ontario Cup match with London was not in similar jeopardy, as thunderstorms were in the Saturday afternoon forecast for the GTA.   

Fortunately the London game commenced as scheduled, and only light rain fell intermittently until the game concluded, at which time the heavy rains came.  The game was rather evenly contested in the early going, with the Raiders going up 1-0 at the 20 minute mark on a nifty play by Razor.  The Raiders had two additional glorious opportunities before the half, but shot wide on one occasion, and shot high on the other.   London applied some pressure of its own, but the majority of its shots in the first half were from well out and handled easily by Mac.   

In the second half, there were more chances by both sides – the ultimate difference being who converted and who did not.  Fortunately for the Raiders, Munchie put Oshawa up 2-0 about ten minutes into the half.   There were then some tenuous moments for Oshawa in its own end, as the Raiders conceded multiple corners and escaped danger by clearing some goal-mouth scrambles away, seemingly at the last second.   However, another tally by Razor approximately thirty minutes into the second half would settle the issue, giving the Raiders a well-earned 3-0 victory and a berth in the Ontario Cup’s Final Four in Cambridge on August 23.  

The Raiders most recent exploits leading into and during the Lord Simcoe Day weekend, commenced with an OYSL match that took the girls outside of Durham Region for the final league game in 2008.  It was a trip to Burlington to face the Burlington Heat.   The Heat have taken their game to seemingly greater heights since the prior meeting between these two sides.  At the same time, the Raiders have struggled in recent matches to regain the confidence required to successfully compete at the OYSL level.  In this match with Burlington, the Raiders allowed the Heat to dictate the pace for large stretches at a time, thereby playing a reactive style of soccer more often than not.  In the end, the Heat walked off with a tidy 4-0 victory, leaving the Raiders with a daunting road ahead in order to escape the final spot in the standings.  

After Burlington, the Raiders quickly made their way to Ottawa to take part once again in the National Capital Invitational Tournament.  The “NatCap” is a well known and highly regarded tournament, and the ’94 Girls field was noticeably stronger in 2008 than in 2007.  The Raiders progressed well through the opening round, with convincing victories over the OSU Force and a Quebec side from Aylmer.  The Raiders also played two of their fellow OYSL teams in the opening round, coming away with regulation draws against both Nepean Hotspurs and Gloucester Hornets.  This left the Raiders with 8 points and a date in Monday’s Semi-Final against the North London Meteors.  Those familiar with the Meteors will recognize them as one of the top squads in the province.  The Raiders put forth a valiant effort against London, but mounting injuries (4 regulars could only watch from the sidelines) and therefore a short bench left the Oshawa girls in a vulnerable state.  As such, London advanced to the Final with a 5-1 victory.

The NatCap weekend in Ottawa is always a great trip, and this year was no exception.   True, the girls played hard, but even aside from soccer there was a unique and impromptu meeting with the members of Girlicious that provided some keen photo-ops.  How often does that happen when you go away to a soccer tournament?

On a night when many cities in the GTA had closed their rain-soaked fields, the Oshawa Kicks Raiders and London United Southend Jaguars managed to play an entire match without a drop of rain.  In fact the conditions at Oshawa Civic #3 were quite favourable, considering all the rain that had fallen in recent days. 

The game would be a pre-cursor to an upcoming Ontario Cup quarter-final match which will see the Raiders and Jaguars battle on August 9^th for the right to advance to the Ontario Cup semi-finals in Cambridge.  If the two OYSL matches between these teams are any indication of things to come, then the outcome of the upcoming Ontario Cup match will be anyone’s guess.  In their previous OYSL tilt back in May, the Jaguars emerged 2-1 winners in London thanks to a last minute goal, and in this week’s July re-match in Oshawa the result was much the same.  The latest match was a true see-saw affair, as the London girls would take the lead on three separate occasions, only to have the Raiders draw level each time.   Territorially there really wasn't a distinct advantage for either side.

With the score deadlocked 3-3 very late in the second half, the Jaguars would once again convert a corner kick (as was the case in May) to edge the Raiders 4-3 in yet another climactic finish.   This was a valuable win for London and certainly a heart-breaking loss for Oshawa.   

The Raiders will continue to soldier on and as mentioned above, will have an opportunity to avenge the most recent loss to London when the two sides meet again in the Ontario Cup.   

The Kicks Raiders most recent match took place in Brampton at the pristine Victoria Park field, which has to be considered among the top pitches on the OYSL circuit.  The opposing Brams United Bullets had defeated the Raiders previously at the May Kick-Off weekend by a score of 1-0.  In the just released 2008 Terra Power Rankings (TPR), the Bullets were the top ranked 94G team in the province, thanks to a successful start to their 2008 campaign.

The Raiders limped into this match with a number of injuries, and would therefore compete on this night with a very short bench.  For the first 10 minutes however, Oshawa’s girls carried the majority of play, and almost took the lead after ringing a shot off the Brams crossbar.  After about 15 minutes the pendulum slowly began to swing in favour of the Bullets, who would score near the midway point of the half.  A rare yellow card was handed out shortly after the goal, following a hostile challenge by a Brams striker to the Oshawa keeper (who was herself a call-up player for the Raiders).   This increased the overall tempo of the game, and unfortunately for Oshawa, Brams notched a second goal just prior to halftime, and would head into the second frame up by two.

The second half was quite similar to the first, as the Raiders came out once again with a slight edge for the first 10-15 minutes, but were slowly overtaken by the Brams squad as the half progressed.  The Raiders seemed to fatigue as the half played out, while the relentless Brams side appeared to intensify its physical approach and attacking style.   As with the first half, the Brams team potted two goals and the short-staffed Raiders could not find the back of the net, despite some promising counter attacks. 

The Kicks Raiders would like to extend a special thank you to Cheyanne Daniels along with her Ajax Lightning 94G team for allowing Cheyanne to play this match for the Raiders. 

After almost a month since their last OYSL league match, the Kicks Raiders took on an old foe from years gone by in the Pickering Power Pythons.  These teams have had some intense and interesting matches over the years and the pendulum has swung both ways in the process.  The Raiders and Pythons had both recently qualified for the 2008 Ontario Cup quarter-finals and were therefore ready to resume the rigors of the OYSL.  The pitch at Oshawa Civic Field #3 and the weather conditions were both ideal, and there was no real wind factor to influence the proceedings.

Pickering came out with an early intensity that was not matched in the first half by the Raiders.  The seemingly reactive Oshawa girls conceded considerable time and space to the talented Pythons, who took advantage with a goal approximately 10 minutes in from a goalmouth scramble that clearly shook up the Raiders keeper.  To her credit she hung in there, playing the balance of the match with what would later be diagnosed as a mild to moderate concussion.  The Pythons would go on to notch two additional markers before the interval to take a 3-0 lead into the second half.

In the second half, the Raiders displayed considerably more drive and played with a more creative offensive flair, which swung the match into an alternating two-way flow.  Both teams took turns driving one another into the attacking zone, and were rewarded with some artistic goals.  Two Oshawa goals would be scored via the set piece, while Pickering countered on each occasion with well-placed shots of their own.  The game, while not overly physical, had its moments and took on a distinct tempo in the second half after the Raiders had decided to truly engage the Pythons.  Oshawa closed out the scoring to further narrow the gap, but the damage sustained in the first half was too much for the Raiders to overcome.  Final score was 5-3 in favour of Pickering.   

The Kicks Raiders took to the field over the weekend after a welcome reprieve from their intense OYSL opening month of matches.  The matches on the weekend took place in Stoney Creek, ON as part of the 2008 Ontario Cup tournament.  This portion of the prestigious Ontario Cup is known as the Tournament Round, and the hosts for the weekend were the Saltfleet GO AHEAD Soccer Club.   In the Tournament Round, there are eight host sites throughout the province where five teams are typically drawn into a round robin event that produces one winner from each of the eight sites. 

In Stoney Creek, the Raiders reeled off successive victories against the Whitby Iroquois, Beamsville Lincoln Storm, Waterloo United and the Saltfleet Storm.  In the process the Raiders notched 11 goals while allowing 2.   The girls were put to the test in all matches and repeatedly found a way to come out on top, thus advancing to the Quarter Final round of Ontario Cup, to be held in Oshawa on August 9^th.  The Raiders will face the London United Southend Jaguars in this quarter-final match, and the winner will advance to the Ontario Cup Semi Final round on August 23^rd in Cambridge.

The Oshawa Kicks Raiders wish to thank the Saltfleet GO AHEAD Soccer Club for their fine hospitality during the weekend and for finding a creative way to adhere to the original schedule despite the delays created by Mother Nature.    

Though it is still relatively early in June, the inaugural OYSL season is now half over for the Oshawa Kicks Raiders, who will now wait almost a month before taking part in another scheduled league game.  As odd as this may seem, of the eight league games played to date by the Raiders, only one has been played in Oshawa.  This past week had the Raiders visiting the two top-ranked 94G teams in the province, namely the Oakville Titans and the Newmarket Lasers.   Nobody said it would be easy…

In Oakville Tuesday, the 9:00 p.m. match was played under a steady downpour for the majority of the evening.  It was the first time that the Raiders and Titans had met one another and the first game action for the Titans since the OYSL Opening Weekend.  In the opening half, Oakville jumped out to a 2-0 lead, which the Raiders managed to erase with two quick goals of their own.  Tied 2-2 entering the second half, the Titans proceeded to take over, with precision passing and exceptional long-distance shooting to take advantage of the slick playing field.  When all was said and done, the Titans emerged with a well-earned 6-2 victory.   

Unlike Oakville on Tuesday night where players and spectators alike had teeth chattering in the chilled rainfall and heavy winds, Saturday’s humid weather in Newmarket was anything but chilly.   The Raiders were eager to take on the Lasers, who themselves had just encountered a loss for the first time in over 60 league games, spanning several years.   The Lasers, as has often been the case during the previous 60+ victories, notched a very early goal inside the first few minutes of the match.   The Raiders created some quality chances to draw level, but the ball would not find the back of the net for Oshawa.  The Lasers then took advantage of an Oshawa foul to pad the lead to 2-0, but misfired on several other chances, keeping the score at 2-0.  As the game wore on both sides seemed to feel the effects of the heat and there were no goals scored in the second half.    

Given the heavy scheduling endured to date by the Raiders, the forthcoming void in OYSL league play provides a chance to regroup and get in some quality practice time, which has been somewhat of a challenge in recent weeks.   In the interim, the Ontario Cup in Stoney Creek will give the Raiders an opportunity to close out June with some meaningful competition and allow the team to prepare for its July OYSL matches.

The whirlwind tour of the province continued for the Oshawa Kicks Raiders this past week, when the girls actually added a few American States to their list of places visited during the month of May.  A day after playing in London, and less than a week after being in our nation’s capital, the girls lifted off to another national capital, this time in the USA.  The Raiders took part in the 32^nd Annual Columbia Invitational Soccer tournament, held in Columbia, MD on the Memorial Day long weekend.  While this Soccer Scribe was not actually in the US for the event, he was told that the Raiders delivered very respectable performances, while playing against some of the finest teams in the American Northeast.  Victory was not the sole purpose in attending this prestigious tournament, and though the girls were exposed to some top US teams and a distinctly physical brand of soccer, they were also treated to some fine American hospitality, thanks to Coach John’s generous brother and his local congregation. 

Back on their home soil for the first time in 2008, the Raiders next action was on Thursday, May 29 to face the OYSL league-leading Burlington Heat, whom had defeated both its opponents via shutout during the OYSL Kick-Off weekend.  This match at Oshawa Civic Field #3 was a free-wheeling affair in the first half, where The Raiders twice took the lead, only to have the Heat square the contest up on both occasions.  In the second half, the Heat applied great pressure in search of a go-ahead goal and came close on multiple tries, but could not break the deadlock.  A few counter attacks by the Raiders were also thwarted, and the teams would settle for a 2-2 draw in the end.   A valuable point for both sides.

On Saturday, the seemingly unforgiving OYSL schedule had the Raiders back in Ottawa, where they had defeated Gloucester two weeks earlier.  This time the Raiders faced the Nepean Hotspurs Lightning, on a rain-soaked pitch in the early afternoon heat.  Clearly, the Raiders were showing signs of both mental and physical fatigue, and the Hotspurs were quick to capitalize.  A goal by Nepean in the first three minutes saw the Spurs take a lead that it would not relinquish.  A cross-bar by the Raiders later in the half was countered by another Hotspurs goal to take a 2-0 lead into the second half, where a weary looking Raiders squad allowed two more goals to emerge on the wrong side of a 4-0 match. 

The rapid-fire road tour of the OYSL continued Thursday night for the Oshawa Kicks Raiders, who played under the lights in London.  It was the fourth league game for the Raiders.  Curiously, none of these matches have actually been played in Oshawa as yet.

In London on Thursday, the opposition was the Southend Jaguars from the London United Club, a team that the Raiders had not yet had the pleasure to face, in either tournament or league play.  The game Thursday commenced with the Jaguars on their heels, as Oshawa’s girls held a distinct territorial edge for the first 20 minutes, capped by a Raiders goal midway through the half.  After this Oshawa goal, the play seemed to level off, with both sides taking equal turns steering the ship.   Of the two teams, the Raiders had the better scoring chances, but could not capitalize with an all-important second goal.

In the second half, London notched an early goal, and the play thereafter continued to sway back and forth, to the point where it appeared that a draw would be the final outcome.   The final five minutes however, were quite eventful, and perhaps illustrate the fine line that exists between victory and defeat in the OYSL.  With less than five minutes to play, Oshawa rang a shot square off the London goal post, after which the play moved up the pitch into Raiders territory.  A corner kick was awarded to London, who successfully converted this opportunity to go up 2-1.  The Raiders, mounting one final attack, took the ball deep into London territory, and despite a frenzied goalmouth scramble, could not finish with the equalizer, leaving a much-relieved London squad with its first OYSL victory. 

A last-minute loss is heartbreaking no matter what the sport, and this loss was certainly heartbreaking for Oshawa.  It further underscores the parity within the OYSL in the 2008 94G division.   This was a very “winnable” game for the Raiders, and the London crew are to be commended for snatching a victory out from underneath the Oshawa squad.   The lessons learned in London must serve the Raiders well going forward as they continue on in their maiden OYSL voyage.   In the early going, it seems that all games are tight, and can be won or lost by the slimmest of margins.   At this point the Raiders haven’t quite figured out if the OYSL scheduling to date is either cruel or kind, but to be sure the time for rest and recovery seems minimal for the Oshawa girls, when compared to rival OYSL teams.  

While much of the Victoria Day weekend focus for the soccer world in Ontario may have been centered on the GTA at the Umbro Top Rated Invitational and the annual rain-soaked MIT events, the Raiders quietly went about some unfinished OYSL business of their own.   Unlike the soggy GTA on Sunday, Mother Nature served up very favourable weather conditions at the beautiful Hornets Nest facility in Gloucester, which ranks among the finest soccer complexes in Ontario that the Raiders have come across to date.   Adding to the pleasant environment on Sunday was the presence of the Gatineau Under 14 Girls AA soccer team, who crossed the border with their coach Andy Kusi-Appiah to witness the match and perhaps lend some moral support for the Raiders.  

The Raiders meanwhile, find themselves in the midst of a very heavy scheduling period, with many of their OYSL games having been slotted in what seems to be a front-end loaded OYSL schedule in 2008.  Toss in their trip to the Columbia Invitational Tournament in Maryland over the US Memorial Day weekend, and one can easily see that the girls will be hard pressed to figure out which leg bruise will be the one to hide for those upcoming, all-important grad photos.

But back to the unfinished OYSL business…At last weekend’s OYSL kickoff weekend, the short-staffed Raiders played a fairly admirable opening match against Brams, but followed it up the next day with an uninspired and rather lethargic match against Gloucester in Game Two.   Oddly enough, the Raiders next opponent in the OYSL schedule was the same Gloucester Hornets team they had faced a week earlier. 

On this day however, the Raiders displayed much of the intensity, determination and resolve that was clearly missing in the previous OYSL match with Gloucester.  Indeed, it was a very different contest, one which saw the Raiders jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes.   In the second half the Raiders kept up the strong pace, and found themselves ahead 4-0 before the Hornets scored on a very impressive play with about ten minutes left to play.   All-in-all it was a solid team victory for the Raider girls.  It was a relatively physical, yet very well officiated match, and when all was said and done the Raiders came away from their first visit to the Hornets Nest with a satisfying 4-1 victory.    Next up for the girls in what is becoming a fast and furious baptism into the OYSL is a visit to London to take on the United Jaguars.

The Oshawa Kicks Raiders U14 Girls experienced their first OYSL games this past weekend, with a pair of 'home' games on the Huron turf in Mississauga.  The team knew that it would be a somewhat challenging weekend, given not only the new level of OYSL competition, but also due to the fact that it would be playing minus two regulars – both away at the Eastern National Volleyball championships in Moncton, NB. 

Friday’s match pitted the Raiders against the Brams United Bullets.  This was a tight match, played with the tentative hesitance that one might expect from two sides both playing in their OYSL debut.  Much of the action was focused in the corners and on the flanks, with some nice defensive play at both ends.  That said, both sides had a few decent chances to score, and the Bullets eventually cashed in on one of its opportunities for what would be the only goal of the match.  The Raiders had an excellent late-game opportunity to draw level, but the Brams keeper made a splendid save to preserve the victory.  The final score was 1-0 for the Brams Bullets.  The Raiders girls put forth an admirable effort in their OYSL debut, and now had a sense of what to expect going forward.  The game Friday was relatively balanced, and despite the longer 45-minute halves, goals now seemed more elusive for both teams than in the past…

Less than 24 hours later, the Raiders were back on the turf at Huron Park, this time to do battle with the Gloucester Hornets in what was the Hornets’ debut OYSL match.  Perhaps it was the short Raiders bench paired with a longer 90 minute match;  perhaps it was a case of a ‘Day 2’ sophomore jinx,  or maybe the Raiders simply under-estimated their Saturday opponent.  Whatever the reasons, the Raiders found the going to be far more difficult on Saturday with Gloucester than it did the night before with Brams.  Gloucester seemed to have more energy, focus and determination and therefore carried a significant portion of this contest.  Despite this territorial edge, the game was still without a goal until midway through the second half, when Gloucester broke the deadlock.   The Raiders, now forced to open things up, pushed for an equalizer, but it would be the Hornets, on the counter-attack that notched the game's next – and final – goal.   The Hornets were full marks for their 2-0 victory today.

The Raiders will have an immediate opportunity to seek revenge, as the next tilt for Oshawa will be in Gloucester against these same Hornets.    

The 2008 outdoor edition of the Oshawa Kicks Raiders 94 Girls soccer team will cover a lot of geographical ground in 2008, but it didn’t need to travel very far to capture a championship in the early spring season.  In what has become a ritual in Oshawa now for many years, the Oshawa Kicks Soccer Club hosted its popular Frank Sobil Spring Classic tournament on May 3-4, named after the club founder Frank Sobil.   Since 2005 the Raiders have taken part, but not until now has the team emerged as Elite Division Champions.  The Raiders coaches and players alike were eager to finally test their outdoor brand of soccer and as always, the Spring Classic provided the opportunity to do so.   Some say there is just no substitute for true outdoor 11 v 11 soccer - the results at the Spring Classic suggest that the progress and development of the Raiders continues to move in a positive direction.

The girls have worked long and hard over the winter months and have welcomed some important new faces to the fold, to accompany the returning cast for 2008.  The 2007/2008 winter training regimen consisted of a variety of things, including a Futsal league, weekly DISC training sessions, three trips to Buffalo for 11 v 11 indoor play, Ontario Indoor Cup action, several  indoor friendlies , and of course their ever-valuable strength and conditioning work with Heather Pereira.    

With the Frank Sobil Spring Classic Championship having been achieved, the all-important debut in the Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) once again becomes the focus of attention.   Considered the most prestigious youth league in the province, the OYSL allows the Raiders to go head to head against the finest teams in the province.  It will require a significant and ongoing level of dedication and commitment to be able to compete at this new provincial level, and the Raiders are looking forward to the challenge.    

With the goal of 2008 promotion to OYSL already successfully achieved, the Raiders final league match in 2007 was an opportunity to bid farewell to the CGSL and put a bow on the 2007 season.   The venue for the season finale was the impressive turf pitch at Vaughan Grove and the weather was ideal, given the fact that it was a September evening.   The final opponent for the Raiders CGSL season was the Woodbridge Strikers, who have always brought an inspired sense of purpose to the pitch when facing the Raiders.   The Raiders were coming off a somewhat less than inspiring performance at the 2007 Henderson Tournament in London and were looking to redeem themselves and close out the season on a higher note. 

The girls took some time to adjust to the quick pace of the Vaughan turf, and soon discovered that running onto a ball requires either extra speed for the player, or less speed on the ball.   Once this minor detail was resolved, the Raiders and Strikers carried out an intense and entertaining match, augmented by a very capable refereeing crew.  The Raiders scored the first goal, seconds before the half, converting a corner kick no less – always a treat to behold.  Although the Raiders would carry much of the play territorially, there would be no more goals to be had for either side, and the Raiders would leave with a well earned 1-0 victory over the valiant Woodbridge squad. 

With the outdoor CGSL season now completed, the girls will take a short breather and then commence preparations for their 2008 debut in the OYSL.   All in all, the Raiders 2007 campaign was a very successful and rewarding experience, with more exciting times certainly ahead.  None of this would be possible without the steady guiding hand of the Raiders dedicated coaching staff, namely John Djokoto and Lance Hart.  To these fine gentlemen we collectively shout out a huge “Thank You” as we eagerly anticipate the many journeys together that lie ahead.     

Great job Raider families and stay tuned for the upcoming fall tryout sessions! 

The Oshawa Kicks Raiders have achieved the team goal set out at the beginning of the 2007 CGSL season.   All along the stated goal has been to secure a birth in the Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) for 2008, which is the first opportunity of eligibility for the 1994 age group.   What makes this accomplishment even more significant is that it has come about in only the third year of existence of the Kicks Raiders team.   The OYSL is traditionally a league that consists of the top 10 teams in Ontario for a given age group.   Teams must qualify for entry into the OYSL, and the road can be long and difficult.   

The fact that 2007 was the third consecutive year in which the team has achieved its stated goal is by no means a fluke.  Much has gone into the planning, provisioning and evaluation of the Raiders operation.  Nevertheless, there would be no success of any kind without the girls themselves to carry out this well-planned execution on the pitch.  The 2007 Kicks Raiders girls really came through when the chips were down, and can be very proud of this OYSL 2008 accomplishment.    Soccer is very much a team sport and the Raider girls have come together as a team in a relatively short period of time and excelled as a group.   

Congratulations Raiders;   be sure to savour the moment – it is an accomplishment to be proud of for sure, and one which each of you have worked very hard to achieve.

The quest for promotion to OYSL was the focus of the day as the Raiders set out to do battle with the UMSC Strikers on Monday.  The Strikers, also vying for a berth in the OYSL, have had a very successful season in the CGSL and held a two point lead over the Raiders coming into the match.  The pitch at Alexandra Park was very dry and extremely hard, forcing both teams to follow the bouncing ball as though the playing surface was made of concrete.  The ground seemed so hard that running onto a normally-paced through ball was akin to Wiley E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner.  The Raiders always seem to bring out the best in the UMSC squad, and this game was no different.   Oshawa’s play in the first half seemed somewhat non-cohesive and appeared to lack a sense of urgency, and as a result the Raiders would trail the Strikers 2-0 at the interval.  In the second half the Raiders picked up the pace, and showed the intensity that was lacking in the first half.  It may have been a case of too little too late, as the Strikers withstood Oshawa’s comeback bid and held on for a well-deserved 3-2 victory over the Raiders.   Three valuable points in the CGSL promotion-to-OYSL race went to the UMSC Strikers. 

The loss to UMSC on Monday provided further motivation for the Oshawa girls to secure a victory in Wednesday’s “Battle of The Raiders” match with the Richmond Hill Raiders.    Fortunately, the field at Crosby Park in Richmond Hill had a healthy look and feel, and the sandlot conditions experienced on Monday would not be an issue for either team in this match.  In the first half at Richmond Hill, Oshawa quickly took charge and dominated much of the first half.  A goal would come for Oshawa just prior to the half and another would follow early in the second half.  After “Rocket”- ing out to a 2-0 lead, Oshawa seemed to have the match under control.  However, the Richmond Hill girls fought back and showed some impressive drive;  this match had relegation implications for the green Raiders and they weren’t about to roll over and play dead.   At this point Oshawa’s recent fascination with own goals would once again wreak havoc and before you could say “Oops, I didn’t really mean to do that” it was a 2-1 game.  

 In the end, Oshawa hung on for the win and the final score remained 2-1.  It was a big win for Oshawa and a tough loss for Richmond Hill, but at this stage of the season games can be a survival of the fittest (or whoever has fewer injuries).  Both sides are to be commended as they played hard and delivered a spirited effort.  It was a hard-fought match and there are very likely a number of bumps and bruises all around to prove it.

The CGSL season remains the primary focus for the Raiders from here on in, and this week saw two key matches for the girls in Oshawa.  The first match was against the always-tough Etobicoke Titans.  There was a strong wind Monday at Alexandra Park and in the first half it favoured the Titans.   Of note, Oshawa was playing without many of its regulars.  Etobicoke wasn’t able to capitalize on the wind advantage in the first half and the game was without a goal entering the second half.  Oshawa’s short bench may have been a factor, but in the second half the Raiders were also unable to use the wind to their advantage, and the match ended the way it started – 0-0.  Much of this game was played in the midfield and neither keeper was forced to make a spectacular, game-saving play. 

Onto Thursday, the venue shifted to Civic Field #3, and once again the wind was blowing hard.  The opposition was the Pickering Power Pythons, long considered one of the top ’94 teams in the province.  Oshawa’s short bench was augmented by two call-ups from the second Kicks ’94 squad, providing some added depth for the girls.  Pickering had the wind at their backs during the first half, and despite carrying the play for large stretches, no goals resulted.  This would change early in the second half, when the Pythons went out in front, courtesy of an own goal that went in off an Oshawa defender.    After that, the Raiders character, patience and grit all came to the rescue, as they dug deep, took matters into their own hands with two timely strikes from the Rocket and came away with a 2-1 victory over Pickering.   Grinding out a win over a side like Pickering is never an easy feat, but given the circumstances surrounding this one, the girls’ gutsy comeback was a site to behold.

While the victory was sweet enough, the three points were even more significant, given the number of points that were left on the table by the Raiders in previous CGSL matches this season.   In the L3 (Elite) bracket, every point counts – there are no easy points to be had and the Raiders know all too well how they cannot take anything for granted.  And thus the dogfight continues for promotion to OYSL, and in that context, this victory may wind up being a defining moment for the Raiders 2007 season. 

A special thanks from the Raiders faithful goes out to Brianna and Olivia – your presence and valuable contributions were very much appreciated.

The script for the Raiders 2007 Ontario Cup played out much the same as the 2006 edition:   win the Tournament Round, make it to the Final Eight weekend, and then bow out to the Newmarket Lasers.  Here’s hoping the screenwriter’s guild at the OSA in Vaughn comes up with a new and different plot for 2008!   

The Ontario Cup quarter final match was delayed slightly as the Newmarket field, well-groomed as could be, was pre-occupied with a tournament when the two teams showed up.  This wasn’t ideal for either team’s warm-up rituals and probably wasn’t what the OSA folks had in mind when awarding the hosting privileges to the Newmarket United camp.   

When the game eventually commenced, the teams opened up with a cautious approach, not unlike what took place a few nights earlier when the two teams met in Oshawa.  It was about midway through the opening half when the Lasers struck first - a bit of an unusual goal that trickled just over the goal line.   

The Raiders kept up for the most part, but a recent string of injuries, coupled with a very intense schedule over the past two weeks and some untimely absences, made for a tough assignment with the relentless Lasers.  The Raiders girls played a gutsy match today nonetheless, but the host Lasers were too much for the Oshawa girls to overcome on this day.  In the end, the score read Lasers 4, Oshawa 0 and the Raiders now wish the best of luck to their CGSL mates from Newmarket as they proceed to the Ontario Cup semi-finals later this month.

The Raiders have been moving at a break-neck pace over the last 10 days and when The Soccer Scribe last weighed in, the girls had just successfully concluded the Ontario Cup Tournament Round on July 28/29.   The dog days of summer have definitely taken a toll on The Scribe’s ability to keep pace with the rapid Raider rendezvous’ of late.  In short order, let’s catch up on what has taken place since the Ontario Cup Tournament Round.

July 30, the Raiders played a key CGSL league match in Pickering.  Both sides had just won their respective Ontario Cup Tournament Round on the previous day, but there was much at stake in the friendly rivalry between the Raiders & Pythons.  The match was a high-tempo, skilled affair that was contested primarily in the midfield.   Both sides were up for this one, and it showed in the spirited play on the field.  If there was an edge in the match, it was difficult to ascertain, as at times both squads seemed to assert themselves very well.  Just when it seemed that the match was to be a 0-0 draw, the Raiders converted a nifty cross and thus a 1-0 final for the Raiders over the Pythons.

August 2, the Raiders returned to Unionville for a CGSL Cup match with the UMSC Strikers.  Once again it was a match that had a pendulum effect, with Oshawa going out in front, only to have UMSC later draw level.  However, there can be no draws in a CGSL Cup match, so it was off to extra time to settle the matter, and just when it seemed that penalties would be necessary, the Strikers notched the winner to advance with a 2-1 victory.

August 4-6 saw the Raiders attend the resurrected National Capital Invitational (NCI) Tournament in Ottawa.   The Nat Cap is a 3 day event that has long been among the finest tournaments in the province, and the Raiders had been looking forward to participating since 2005.  The facilities were top-notch, and the Raiders had a very successful round-robin portion of the tournament, as they reeled off victories over the Cumberland Cobras, Nepean Hotspurs Lightning (via penalties), Waterloo Angels, and a U12 Gouldburn Gators side.    Monday’s semi-final pitted the Raiders against a very talented Monteuil Stars side that would rank among the top U12 teams in Quebec.   The Raiders managed a 1-0 victory in this one, setting up a rematch with Nepean Hotspurs Lightning in the final.  In the final Oshawa started off slow, allowing Nepean to take a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.  From that point on, the Raiders took control of the match, and were rewarded with a goal prior to the half (off a masterful set piece play).  Try as they may, the Raiders could not get the equalizer, allowing a relieved Hotspurs side to emerge with a 2-1 win and therefore the proud U13G Champions of the 2007 Nat Cap.